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Port of Gaza

Coordinates: 31°31′30.77″N 34°25′51.84″E / 31.5252139°N 34.4310667°E / 31.5252139; 34.4310667
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Port of Gaza
Gaza port, 2015
Map
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Location
CountryState of Palestine
LocationGaza Governorate, Gaza Strip
Coordinates31°31′33″N 34°25′50″E / 31.52583°N 34.43056°E / 31.52583; 34.43056
Grid position096/104 PAL
UN/LOCODEPSGZA[1]
Details
Operated byPalestinian National Authority
Land area48,000 m2 (520,000 sq ft)
No. of piers970 and 330 m (3,180 and 1,080 ft)

The Port of Gaza is a small port near the Rimal district of Gaza City, Gaza.[2] It is the home port of Palestinian fishing-boats and the base of the Palestinian Naval Police, a branch of the Palestinian National Security Forces. Under the Oslo II Accord, the activities of the Palestinian Naval Police are restricted to 6 nautical miles from the coast.[3] Since 2007, the Port of Gaza has been under an Israeli-imposed naval blockade as part of a blockade of the Gaza Strip, and activities at the port have been restricted to small-scale fishing.

The nautical access restrictions imposed during Israel's siege of Gaza confine the port to limited uses.

History

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Gaza Strip

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The Gaza Strip has been put under a strict blockade, by land, air, and sea.[4] Having total surface area of 362 square kilometers,[5] the transportation system in the strip is in poor condition with only 76 kilometres (47 mi) of main roads, 122 kilometres (76 mi) of regional roads, and 99 kilometres (62 mi) of local roads.[4] Formerly the Gaza strip had a small airport located at Rafah, but the airport was destroyed in 2001 by Israel.[4] The port was built by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).[4]

Maiuma

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Main article: Maiuma (city)

In earlier times, the port of Maiuma, or el Mineh (Arabic for "the harbour"), was located in the area.[6] In the late Ottoman era, Pierre Jacotin named the place Majumas on his map from 1799.[7]

In 1883, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) noted that el Mineh was probably the ancient Maiuma.[8]

In 2011, eight Roman columns believed to be the remains of a church were swept ashore during a storm.[9] In 2013, the Palestinian Naval Police found ancient artifacts that included poles and baked clay.[10]

Since 1994

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In 2002, Israeli forces attacked the Palestinian Naval Police facilities in the port,[11] after Naval Police commanders were implicated in the Karine A affair, an attempt to secretly bring in 50 tons of weapons by boat into Gaza.

In 2007, following Hamas' takeover of Gaza, Israel imposed a blockade of the Gaza Strip, including a naval blockade.[12] Several attempts to break the Israeli blockade have been made.[13] Israel has prevented most ships from docking at the Port of Gaza, but did allow two boats, carrying activists and some supplies, to reach the port in 2008.[14] As at 2010, the port was restricted to smaller Palestinian fishing boats.[15]

In 2010, the port was deepened by Hamas in preparation for the arrival of a blockade-breaking flotilla of larger international ships.[15]

Gaza Genocide

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Main article: Gaza genocide

The port and more than 90% of docked vessels were destroyed by Israel during the Gaza genocide; the damage included targeted aerial strikes on fishing vessels and maritime artillery impacts.[16][17]

Gaza Seaport plans

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Main article: Gaza Seaport plans
Fishermen at the port in 2019

Since the 1993 Oslo I Accord, there have been plans to build a much larger seaport in Gaza. Due to the continued Israeli–Palestinian conflict, these plans have not materialized as of 2024.

In 2005, Israel approved Palestinian plans to rebuild and complete the construction of a port a few miles south of Gaza City, which had begun before the outbreak of the Second Intifada in September 2000. The building was destroyed by Israeli forces together with Gaza's existing airport near Rafah following the outbreak of the Second Intifada.[18]

U.S.-installed floating pier

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Main article: Gaza floating pier

In 2024, the United States Army and Navy began constructing a floating pier at the Port of Gaza to bring in food to the people of the Gaza Strip.[19] The pier was actually built in next door Israel and moved to Gaza. The United States and other countries have also built an offshore platform a kilometre away from this pier. The aid is moved from the platform to this pier.[20][21] On 20 May, the pier was damaged due to rains and wind.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "UNLOCODE (PS) - PALESTINE, STATE OF". service.unece.org. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  2. ^ Doughty and El Aydi, 1995, p. 13
  3. ^ Karsh, Efraim (2013). Israel: the First Hundred Years: Volume II: From War to Peace?. p. 216.
  4. ^ a b c d Sarraj, Yahya R. (2018-11-14). "Hourly and Daily Traffic Expansion Factors on Selected Roads in Gaza, Palestine". The Open Civil Engineering Journal. 12 (1): 355–367. doi:10.2174/1874149501812010355. ISSN 1874-1495.
  5. ^ Zavadjil, Milan (1997-02-28). Recent Economic Developments, Prospects, and Progress in Institution Building in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. doi:10.5089/9781557756381.071. ISBN 978-1-55775-638-1.
  6. ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 361
  7. ^ Karmon, 1960, p. 173
  8. ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1883, SWP III, p. 236
  9. ^ Gaza's archaeological treasures at risk from war and neglect 7 January 2013, BBC
  10. ^ Gaza naval police excavate archaeological site off the Gaza coast, February 17, 2014, Memo
  11. ^ Israeli navy attacks Gaza port, 12 January 2002, BBC
  12. ^ Israeli navy blocks Gaza aid ship, 1 December 2008, The Guardian
  13. ^ U.S. leftists confirm plans to sail to Gaza to break siege 29 July 2008 U.S. Haaretz
  14. ^ Navy lets another boat into Gaza port, by Yaakov Katz and Herb Keinon 9 December 2008, The Jerusalem Post
  15. ^ a b Gaza port readies for flotilla, May 27, 2010, Jerusalem Post
  16. ^ "Photos: Port of Gaza left in ruins". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  17. ^ "Strikes on Gaza City Port". Wall Street Journal. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  18. ^ Palestinians to rebuild Gaza sea port in latest peace move, Anton La Guardia, 17 February 2005, The Daily Telegraph
  19. ^ Kim, Victoria; Boxerman, Aaron (9 March 2024). "As U.S. Rushes to Build Gaza Port, Major Challenges Loom". The New York Times.
  20. ^ Borger, Julian (2024-05-17). "Supplies arrive in Gaza via new pier but land routes essential, says US aid chief". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  21. ^ Tondo, Lorenzo; Burke, Jason; Tantesh, Malak A.; Borger, Julian (2024-05-16). "US completes installation of floating pier to deliver aid to Gaza". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  22. ^ Youssef, Nancy A. "Pentagon Shuts Down Floating Pier for Gaza Aid After Storm Damage". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-06-04.

Bibliography

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port of Gaza.

31°31′30.77″N 34°25′51.84″E / 31.5252139°N 34.4310667°E / 31.5252139; 34.4310667

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